2013 School Grades: 30 Manatee Schools Drop

The grades are in for elementary and middle schools in Bradenton and across Florida.

The Florida Department of Education on Friday released statewide FCAT school grades for 2013.

(LINK: Click here to see the grades for all Manatee County Schools)

This is the second straight year the State Board of Education has altered the grading system with tougher standards. This year officials also implemented a "safety net" that prevents any school from dropping more than one letter grade.

In Manatee County, 30 schools saw their grades drop, the district reported:

• 10 schools received A grades this year, compared to 18 in 2012.

• 10 schools received B grades this year, compared to nine in 2012.

• 12 schools received C grades this year, compared to 15 in 2012.

• Nine schools received D grades this year, compared to nine in 2012.

• Eight schools received F grades this year, compared to one in 2012.

• Four schools received an incomplete score at this point

“We had some highlights and lowlights, but we do have a plan in place that will help schools improve their scores next year,” said Dr. Diana Greene, deputy superintendent of instructional services for Manatee County Schools, in a media release. “Even though the state did put the so called ‘safety net’ in place, it also increased the standards for writing from a 3.0 to a 3.5 which impacted many of our schools’ grades.”

The Manatee School District did tout Johnson Middle School as a "bright spot," raising its grade from a C to a B "even in the midst of higher standards," spokesperson Michael Barber said.

See full details on how local schools fared in the preliminary grades posted on the Florida Department of Education website.

What do you think of the school grades and how they're compiled by the state? Post a comment below.